Adjustable oral examination assistance device

ABSTRACT

An improved device for securing a disposable tongue depressor blade to an elongated disposable flashlight or the like. The device comprises a first clip member securable to one end of the flashlight housing a light source and having a tongue blade engaging surface formed thereon to position a disposable tongue blade in parallel laterally offset alignment with the longitudinal axis of the flashlight. The device also includes a second clip member for securing a disposable tongue depressor blade to the first clip member through mutual sliding wedge action between the first and second clip members with the tongue blade disposed therebetween. The device further discloses friction means for providing a secure grip on the tongue blade to prevent movement of the blade relative to the flashlight during an oral examination.

United States Patent Meltzner ADJUSTABLE ORAL EXAMINATION ASSISTANCEDEVICE Inventor:

Filed:

Steven D. Meltzner, 10216 Finley,

Oklahoma City, Okla. 73120 Sept. 16, 1974 Appl. No.: 506,512

[52] US. Cl 24/81 CL; 128/16 [51] Int. Cl. A44B 21/00; A61B 1/06 [58]Field of Search 24/81 CL, 81 H, 263 SW. 24/11 CT; 128/15, 16

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,274,547 8/1918 Hohle128/16 1.518.554 12/1924 Bering 24/11 CT 1,666,265 4/1928 Roscnfcld128/15 2,685,848 8/1954 Mcighan ct a1. 24/263 SW X 3.153,267 10/1964Rowland 24/81 CL 3,247,564 4/1966 Barnum 24/263 SW PrimaryExaminer-Donald A. Griffin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John M. Fish, Jr.

[ 5 7 ABSTRACT An improved device for securing a disposable tonguedepressor blade to an elongated disposable flashlight or the like. Thedevice comprises a first clip member securable to one end of theflashlight housing a light source and having a tongue blade engagingsurface formed thereon to position a disposable tongue blade in parallellaterally offset alignment with the longitudinal axis of the flashlight.The device also includes a second clip member for securing a disposabletongue depressor blade to the first clip member through mutual slidingwedge action between the first and second clip members with the tongueblade disposed therebetween. The device further discloses friction meansfor providing a secure grip on the tongue blade to prevent movement ofthe blade. relative to the flashlight during an oral examination.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures ADJUSTABLE ORAL EXAMINATION ASSISTANCEDEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The presentinvention relates to diagnostic instruments and more particularly, butnot by way of limitation, to improved apparatus for rigidly securing adisposable tongue depressor blade to a small flashlight to form an oralexamination assistance device.

2. Description of the Prior Art As is well known by dentists andphysicians, it is often necessary to visually examine the interior of apatients mouth for various diagnostic purposes. Such oral examination isnormally accomplished by depressing the tongue of a patient by means ofan elongated, flat, wooden splint, which is usually referred to as atongue blade, while simultaneously directing a light beam into the mouthof the patient. Although numerous devices have been constructed forassembling a tongue blade and a light source into a single unit, thesedevices have generally proven unsatisfactory to the extent that mostoral examinations are still conducted by holding the tongue blade in onehand and directing the light beam with the other hand. Clearly such anexamination technique restricts the extent of examination which may beperformed by the examining dentist or physician since he cannotconveniently use one free hand to position the patients head or mouth orpull the tongue or use other instruments in conjunction with the tongueblade and light source.

One type of oral examination device for holding a tongue depressor bladeand a light includes a battery case which serves as a handle to whichthe light source and a tongue blade holder are connected such that thetongue blade is positioned at substantially right angles to the batterycase. In addition to being exceedingly complex and expensive tomanufacture, this device requires a relatively complicated movement ofthe entire hand and arm in order for the examining physician to depressthe patients tongue or otherwise manipulate the tongue depressor withinthe patients mouth. Other oral examination devices have provided aflashlight including a battery case which is disposed parallel to thetongue blade. These latter devices have not received general acceptancein the medical profession for a number of reasons. It is believed that aprimary reason for such non-acceptance of this latter type ofexamination device resides in the fact that such devices are difficultto load an unload, difficult to clean and sterilize and are otherwisegenerally unsatisfactory due to the complicated structure which has beennecessitated in attempting to provide for securing both adult andpediatric size tongue blades to the examination devices.

It has also been found that the oral examination devices currentlyavailable provide neither the strength nor the length and sizeadjustability to provide the type of oral examination tool necessary forconvenient oral examinations. Many of the prior art devices rely ondistortion of the tongue blade engaging structure to hold the disposabletongue blade, however, such devices generally fall to secure adisposable tongue blade to a flashlight with sufficient rigidity toapply much force to the interior of an oral cavity without the danger ofthe tongue blade moving relative to or being inadvertently disconnectedfrom the light source within the oral cavity.

SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON The present invention contemplates an apparatusfor connecting an elongated flashlight having a longitudinal axis and agenerally circular cross-section to an elongated tongue blade having alongitudinal axis and a substantially rectangular cross-section to forman oral examination assistance instrument. The apparatus comprises afirst clip member having a first end portion and a second end portion.The first clip member includes flashlight engaging means formed on thefirst end portion thereof for connecting the first end portion of thefirst clip member to one end of the elongated flashlight. The first clipmember also includes an elongated tongue blade engaging member having agenerally U-shaped cross-section including a base portion and a pair ofupwardly extending side portions and extending from the flashlightengaging means to the second end portion of the first clip member, thebase portion being aligned substantially parallel to and offsetdownwardly from the longitudinal axis of the flashlight connectedthereto and having a substantially planar lower tongue blade engagingsurface formed thereon lying in a plane substantially parallel to anddownwardly offset from the longitudinal axis of the flashlight. Theupwardly extending side portions each include a straight inclined rampsurface formed on the upper edge thereof extending from the flashlightengaging means and converging downwardly toward the substantially planartongue blade engaging surface. The apparatus further includes a secondclip member, mutually engageable with the first clip member, having afirst end portion and a second end portion and having a generallyU-shaped cross-section including a base portion and a pair of upwardlyextending side portions. The base portion includes substantially planartongue blade engaging means formed on the upper side thereof forengaging an elongated tongue blade against the substantially planarlower tongue blade engaging surface of the first clip member. The sideportions are spaced apart a distance sufficient to slidingly receive theupwardly extending side portions of the first clip member therebetwcenand each includes inwardly extending inclined straight ramp surfacemeans formed thereon for mutually engaging a respective one of thestraight inclined ramp surfaces formed on the clip member to rigidlysecure an elongated tongue blade between the substantially planarlower'tongue blade engaging surface of the first clip member and thesubstantially planar tongue blade engaging surface means of the secondclip member. This rigid securement is achieved through mutual wedgingaction between the straight incline ramp surfaces and the inwardlyextending inclined straight ramp surface means.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved device forsecuring a disposable tongue depressor blade to an elongated flashlightin close, parallel relationship to provide a convenient instrument forperforming oral examinations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved deviceof the type described above capable of securely attaching disposabletongue compressor blades of various widths and thicknesses to anelongated flashlight to provide an instrument for performing oralexaminations.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improveddevice of the type described which may be economically manufactured andwhich may be easily and quickly removed from the flashlight to be eithersterilized or disposed of. I

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of thetype described which may be economically formed of metallic materials ormolded from synthetic resins or the like.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a device ofthe type described which includes two rigid interlocking clip memberswhich are not susceptible to physical distortion after repeated use.

Other objects and advantages of the present inven tion will be evidentfrom the following detailed description when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a side elevation of oneformof the present invention illustrating the various elements thereofprior to their assembly on a flashlight to secure a tongue bladethereto.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. I illustratingthe elements in assembled relation securing the tongue blade to theflashlight.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view illustrating another form of the presentinvention illustrating the various elements thereof prior to theirassembly on a flashlight to secure a tongue blade thereto.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the apparatus of FIG. 3 illustratingthe elements thereof in assembled relation securing the tongue blade tothe flashlight.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of another form of the presentinvention employing friction means engageable with the tongue blade.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and5, the adjustable oral examination assistance device of the presentinvention is designated by the reference character 10. The apparatus 10includes a first clip member 12 and a second clip member 14. The device10 is illustrated in conjunction with a disposable flat wooden tonguedepressor blade 16 and a disposable elongated flashlight 18.

The flashlight I8 is of conventional configuration having a longitudinalaxis and a generally circular cross-section. Such a flashlight iscommercially available from the Kendall Co. or Concept. Inc. andincludes an incandescent light source positioned within the first endportion 20 to provide a beam of light extending to the left along thelongitudinal axis thereof as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. The first clipmember 12 includes a flashlight engaing member 22 formed on the firstend portion 24 thereof. The flashlight engaging member 22 includes acylindrically shaped cavity 26 formed therein having a longitudinal axisand sized to securely receive the first end portion 20 of the disposableelongated flashlight 18 therein in coaxial alignment therewith to securethe first clip member 12 to the flashlight 18 as clearly shown in FIGS.2 and 5.

An elongated tongue blade engaging member 28, having a generallyU-shaped cross-section, extends from the flashlight engaging member 22to the second end portion 30-of the first clip member 12. The tongueblade engaging member 28 includes a planar lower surface 32 formedthereon which lies in a plane substantially parallel to and laterallydownwardly offset from the longitudinal axis of the cavity 26 and theflashlight 18 secured therein a distance greater than the crosssectionalradius of the flashlight 18. A pair of side portions 34 and 36 extendupwardly from the planar lower surface 32 in spaced parallel relationand carry a pair of spaced parallel elongated inclined straight rampsurfaces 38 and 40 formed respectively thereon with the ramp surfaces 38and 40 lying in mutually parallel planes perpendicular to the planarsurface 32. The inclined ramp surfaces 38 and 40 converge toward theplanar surface 32 at the second end portion 30 from the flashlightengaging member 22.

The second clip member 14 is engageable with the first clip member 12and includes a first end portion 42 and a second end portion 44 and isgenerally Ushaped in cross-section. The second clip member 14 includes abottom portion 46 extending from the first end portion 42 to the secondend portion 44 and having a pla nar upper surface 48 formed thereon forsecurely engaging the tongue depressor blade 16 against the lower planarsurface 32 of the first clip member 12 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5.

The second clip member 14 further includes a pair of mutually parallelaligned members 50 and 52 extending upwardly from the planar uppersurface 48 of the bottom portion 46 and extending from the first endportion 42 to the second end portion 44. The upwardly extending members50 and 52 are laterally spaced from each other a distance sufficient toslidingly receive the elongated tongue blade engaging member 28 of thefirst clip member 12 therebetween as shown in FIG. 5. This lateralspacing is of sufficient width to also receive a tongue depressor blade16 of approximately 2.25 centimeters in width or smaller therein whichis the size of a standard adult wooden tongue blade of substantiallyrectangular cross-section.

Inwardly extending and downwardly facing inclined straight ramp engagingsurfaces 54 and 56 are formed respectively on the upwardly extendingmembers 50 and 52 for sliding mutual engagement with the inclinedstraight ramp surfaces 38 and 40 of the first clip member when the firstand second clip members 12 and 14 are slidingly engaged as shown inFIGS. 2 and 5 to serve the tongue depressor blade 18 through mutualwedging action between the inclined straight ramp engaging surfaces 54and 56 and the inclined straight ramp surfaces 38 and 40. It will beunderstood that the angle of inclination of the inclined straight rampengaging surfaces 54 and 56 and the inclined straight ramp surfaces 38and 40 are substantially equal and are preferably approximately 8 15'from the horizontal as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The flashlight engaging member 22 of the first clip member 12 may besuitably formed of a translucent or transparent synthetic resin and maysuitably include a transparent circular window portion 58 through whichthe beam of lightfrom the flashlight 18 will be readily projected. Thetransparent window portion 58 also provides a positive barrier to thefirst end portion 20 of the flashlight 18 upon the insertion thereofinto the cavity 26 of the flashlight engaging member 22 as shown in FIG.2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. 3, 4 AND 6 Referring now to FIGS.3, 4 and 6, there is shown a slightly modified alternate embodiment ofthe present invention which will be designated by the referencecharacter a. The adjustable oral examination assistance device 100 isslightly modified for use with a flashlight 60 which houses anincandescent light bulb 62 in the first end portion 64 thereof. Theflashlight 60 has a longitudinal axis and a substantially circularcrosssection and is of slightly different configuration from thedisposable elongated flashlight 18 described above. Such a flashlight ismanufactured by Welch Allyn, Inc. and carries the designation No. 77700.

The device 100 employs a slightly modified first clip member 12a adaptedfor engagement with the flashlight 60 and the previously describedsecond clip member 14. The first clip member 12a differs from the previously described first clip member 12 in that the modified flashlightengaging member 22a thereof includes a slightly modified cylindricallyshaped cavity 26a sized and shaped to securely receive the first endportion 64 of the flashlight 60 therein. The substantially cylindricallyshaped cavity 26a preferably includes a slightly convergent portion 66adjacent to the longitudinal tongue blade engaging member 28 whichcommunicates with the end of the modified flashlight engaging member 22aopposite the first end portion 24 of the modified first clip member 12a.The convergent portion 26 of the substantially cylindrical cavity 26aprovides a positive stop to prevent the flashlight 60 from extending anyfurther through the cavity 261: when secured to the first clip member12a as is illustrated in FIG. 4. The longitudinal tongue blade engagingmember 28 of the slightly modified first clip member 1211 issubstantially identical to that described above for the device 10 andtherefore employs the same reference characters. The securement of thetongue depressor blade 16 between the modified first clip member 12a andthe second clip member 14 in the device 10a is substantially identicalto that described in detail above for the device 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF FIG. 7

FIG. 7 illustrates in cross-section a slight modification of the device10a which will be designated by the reference character 10b. The device10h employs a slightly modified first clip member 12}; ofstructuresubstantially identical to that previously described above for the firstclip member 12a with the exception that the planar lower surface 32b ofthe slightly modified longitudinal tongue blade engaging member 28bincludes a plurality of serrations 68 formed thereon to provideincreased frictinal engagement with the tongue depressor blade 16 whenthe first clip member 1212 and the second clip member 14 mutually engagethe tongue depressor blade 16 in mutual wedging relation as clearlyshown in FIG. 7 and as described in detail above. It will be seen thatthe serrations 68 provide means for more rigidly securing the tonguedepressor blade 16 through the employment of the present invention bypenetrating to some extent the upper surface of the blade 16.

In operation, the first clip member, either 12, 12a or 12b is firstproperly secured to the first end of an appropriate flashlight, either18 or 60. A tongue depressor blade 16, ofeither the standard adult sizeor the smaller pediatric size, is then positioned along the planar lowersurface 32 or 32b of the longitudinal blade engaging member 28 or 28bwith the outer end of the tongue depressor blade 16 extending thedesired distance beyond the second end portion 30 of the first clipmember 12, 12a or 12b. The second clip member 14 is then slidinglyengaged with the first clip member as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 4 and 7 tosecure the tongue depressor blade 16 to the first clip member 12, 12a or12b and the flashlight 18 or 60 to provide a suitable oral examinationassistance device for use by a dentist or physician.

In order to adjust the length of the tongue depressor blade 16 relativeto the flashlight to which it is secured, the operator need onlyslightly disengage the second clip member 14 from its sliding wedgingengagement with the first clip member 12, 12a or 12b to freelymanipulate the tongue depressor blade 16 longitudinally relative to thefirst clip member. When the length has been properly adjusted, the firstand second clip members may then be mutually slidingly re-engaged inwedging relation to securely engage the tongue depressor blade 16.

It will be seen that the various embodiments of the apparatus describedabove provides simple, rigid and adjustable means for securingdisposable tongue depressor blades of varying dimensions to an elongatedflashlight in close, parallel relationship to provide a convenientinstrument for the performing of oral examinations requiring the use ofonly one hand while freeing the other hand to manipulate the head, mouthor tongue of the patient or manipulate other instruments.

Changes may be made in the combination and 'arrangement of parts orelements as set forth in the specification and shown in the drawingwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedin the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for connecting an elongated flashlight having alongitudinal axis and a generally circular cross-section to an elongatedtongue blade having a longitudinal axis and a substantially rectangularcrosssection to form an oral examination assistance instru ment, saidapparatus comprising:

a first clip member and a first end portion and a second end portion andincluding:

flashlight engaging means formed on the first end portion thereof forconnecting the first end portion of said first clip member to one end ofthe elongated flashlight; and I an elongated tongue blade engagingmember having a generally U-shaped cross-section comprising a baseportion and a pair of upwardly extend- 7 ing side portions and extendingfrom said flashlight engaging means to the second end portion of saidfirst clip member, said base portion being aligned substantiallyparallel to and offset downwardly from the longitudinal axis of theflashlight connected thereto and having a substantially lower tongueblade engaging surface formed thereon lying in a plane substantiallyparallel to and downwardly offset from the longitudinal axis of theflashlight, said upwardly extending side portions each including astraight inclined ramp surface formed on the upper edge thereofextending from said flashlight engaging means and converging downwardlytoward the substantially planar tongue blade engaging surface; and

a second clip member, mutually engageable with said first clip member,having a first end portion and a second end portion and having agenerally U- shaped cross-section including a base portion and a pair ofupwardly extending side portions, said base portion having substantiallyplanar tongue blade engaging surface means formed on the upper sidethereof for engaging an elongated tongue blade to secure said bladeagainst the substantially planar lower tongue blade engaging surface ofsaid first clip member, said side portions being spaced apart a distancesufficient to slidingly receive the upwardly extending side portions ofsaid first clip member therebetween and each including inwardlyextending inclined straight ramp surface means formed thereon formutually engaging a respective one of said straight inclined rampsurfaces formed on said first clip member to rigidly secure an elongatedtongue blade between the substantially planar lower tongue bladeengaging surface of said first clip member and the substantially planartongue blade engaging surface means of said second clip member throughmutual wedging action between said straight inclined ramp surfaces andsaid inwardly extending inclined straight ramp surface means.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the substantially planarlower tongue blade engaging surface of said first clip member includesfrictional means formed thereon for providing increased frictionalengagement between said first clip member and an elongated tongue bladeengaged thereby.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the substantially planarlower tongue blade engaging surface of said first clip member includesseparations formed thereon engageable with an elongated tongue bladeengaged thereby.

4. Apparatus for connecting an elongated flashlight having alongitudinal axis and a generally circular cross-section to an elongatedtongue blade having a longitudinal axis and a rectangular cross-sectionto form an oral examination assistance instrument, said apparatuscomprising:

an elongated first clip member having a first end portion and a secondend portion and including:

a flashlight engaging member fromed on the first end portion and havinga cylindrically shaped cavity formed therein having a longitudinal axisand sized to securely receive one end of an elongated flashlight thereinto coaxial alignment therewith to secure said clip member to theflashlight; and

an elongated tongue blade engaging member having a generally U-shapedcross-section and extending from said flashlight engaging member to thesecond end portion of said elongated first clip member, said tongueblade engaging member including a planar lower surface formed thereonsubstantially parallel to and laterally offset from the longitudinalaxis of the cylindrically shaped cavity a distance greater than theradius of the cylindrically shaped cavity and a pair of spaced parallelelongated inclined straight ramp surfaces extending from said flashlightengaging member to the second end portion of said tongue blade engagingmember, said ramp surfaces lying in mutually parallel planesperpendicular to said planar surface and converging toward said planarsurface at the second end portion from said flashlight engaging member;and

a second clip member engageable with said first clip member and having afirst end portion and a second end portion and a generally U-shapedcrosssection and including:

a bottom portion extending from the first end portion to the second endportion and having planar upper surface means formed thereon forsecurely engaging an elongated tongue blade against the lower planarsurface of said first clip member;

a pair of mutually parallel aligned upwardly extending members extendingbetween the first and second end portions of said second clip member andextending upwardly from the upper planar surface means, the upwardlyextending members being laterally spaced from each other a distancesufficient to slidingly receive said elongated tongue blade engagingmember therebetween,

inwardly extending inclined straight ramp engaging surface means formedon each upwardly extending member for slidingly mutually engaging arespective one of said spaced parallel elongated inclined straight rampsurfaces of said first clip member to rigidly secure an elongated tongueblade between the planar lower surface of said first clip member and theplanar upper surface means of said second clip member through mu tualwedging action between said inclined straight ramp engaging surfacemeans of said second clip member and said spaced parellel elongatedinclined straight ramp surfaces of said first clip member.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the planar lower surfaceformed on said first clip member includes friction means formed thereonfor providing increased frictional engagement between said first clipmember and an elongated tongue blade engaged thereby.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the planar lower surfaceformed on said first clip member includes serrations formed thereonengageable with an elongated tongue blade engaged thereby.

PC1-1050 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PatentNo- 3.900.924 A Died Auqust 26. 1975 lnventoz-(s) Steven D. Meltzner Itis certified that error appears in the above-identifieopatent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

1 In Column 1, line 50, "an" should be and-.

In Column 4, line 48, "18" should be --l6-.

'In Column 5, line 55, "frictinal" should be -frictional.

In Column 6, line 61, insert -p lanarbefore the word "lower".

In Column 7, line 37, "separations" should be --serrations-. v Signaland Scaled this fourth Day of November 975 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Anming Officer (ommissinner of Parentsand Trademarks L I v J

1. Apparatus for connecting an elongated flashlight having alongitudinal axis and a generally circular cross-section to an elongatedtongue blade having a longitudinal axis and a substantially rectangularcross-section to form an oral examination assistance instrument, saidapparatus comprising: a first clip member and a first end portion and asecond end portion and including: flashlight engaging means formed onthe first end portion thereof for connecting the first end portion ofsaid first clip member to one end of the elongated flashlight; and anelongated tongue blade engaging member having a generally Ushapedcross-section comprising a base portion and a pair of upwardly extendingside portions and extending from said flashlight engaging means to thesecond end portion of said first clip member, said base portion beingaligned substantially parallel to and offset downwardly from thelongitudinal axis of the flashlight connected thereto and having asubstantially lower tongue blade engaging surface formed thereon lyingin a plane substantially parallel to and downwardly offset from thelongitudinal axis of the flashlight, said upwardly extending sideportions each including a straight inclined ramp surface formed on theupper edge thereof extending from said flashlight engaging means andconverging downwardly toward the substantially planar tongue bladeengaging surface; and a second clip member, mutually engageable withsaid first clip member, having a first end portion and a second endportion and having a generally U-shaped cross-section including a baseportion and a pair of upwardly extending side portions, said baseportion having substantially planar tongue blade engaging surface meansformed on the upper side thereof for engaging an elongated tongue bladeto secure said blade against the substantially planar lower tongue bladeengaging surface of said first clip member, said side portions beingspaced apart a distance sufficient to slidingly receive the upwardlyextending side portions of said first clip member therebetween and eachincluding inwardly extending inclined straight ramp surface means formedthereon for mutually engaging a respective one of said straight inclinedramp surfaces formed on said first clip member to rigidly secure anelongated tongue blade between the substantially planar lower tongueblade engaging surface of said first clip member and the substantiallyplanar tongue blade engaging surface means of said second clip memberthrough mutual wedging action between said straight inclined rampsurfaces and said inwardly extending inclined straight ramp surfacemeans.
 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the substantiallyplanar lower tongue blade engaging surface of said first clip memberincludes frictional means formed thereon for providing increasedfrictional engagement between said first clip member and an elongatedtongue blade engaged thereby.
 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1wherein the substantially planar lower tongue blade engaging surface ofsaid first clip member includes separations formed thereon engageablewith an elongated tongue blade engaged thereby.
 4. Apparatus forconnecting an elongated flashlight having a longitudinal axis and agenerally circular cross-section to an elongated tongue blade having alongitudinal axis and a rectangular cross-section to form an oralexamination assistance instrument, said apparatus comprising: anelongated first clip member having a first end portion and a second endportion and including: a flashlight engaging member fromed on the firstend portion and having a cylindrically shaped cavity formed thereinhaVing a longitudinal axis and sized to securely receive one end of anelongated flashlight therein to coaxial alignment therewith to securesaid clip member to the flashlight; and an elongated tongue bladeengaging member having a generally U-shaped cross-section and extendingfrom said flashlight engaging member to the second end portion of saidelongated first clip member, said tongue blade engaging member includinga planar lower surface formed thereon substantially parallel to andlaterally offset from the longitudinal axis of the cylindrically shapedcavity a distance greater than the radius of the cylindrically shapedcavity and a pair of spaced parallel elongated inclined straight rampsurfaces extending from said flashlight engaging member to the secondend portion of said tongue blade engaging member, said ramp surfaceslying in mutually parallel planes perpendicular to said planar surfaceand converging toward said planar surface at the second end portion fromsaid flashlight engaging member; and a second clip member engageablewith said first clip member and having a first end portion and a secondend portion and a generally U-shaped cross-section and including: abottom portion extending from the first end portion to the second endportion and having planar upper surface means formed thereon forsecurely engaging an elongated tongue blade against the lower planarsurface of said first clip member; a pair of mutually parallel alignedupwardly extending members extending between the first and second endportions of said second clip member and extending upwardly from theupper planar surface means, the upwardly extending members beinglaterally spaced from each other a distance sufficient to slidinglyreceive said elongated tongue blade engaging member therebetween,inwardly extending inclined straight ramp engaging surface means formedon each upwardly extending member for slidingly mutually engaging arespective one of said spaced parallel elongated inclined straight rampsurfaces of said first clip member to rigidly secure an elongated tongueblade between the planar lower surface of said first clip member and theplanar upper surface means of said second clip member through mutualwedging action between said inclined straight ramp engaging surfacemeans of said second clip member and said spaced parellel elongatedinclined straight ramp surfaces of said first clip member.
 5. Theapparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the planar lower surface formedon said first clip member includes friction means formed thereon forproviding increased frictional engagement between said first clip memberand an elongated tongue blade engaged thereby.
 6. The apparatus asdefined in claim 4 wherein the planar lower surface formed on said firstclip member includes serrations formed thereon engageable with anelongated tongue blade engaged thereby.